Clinical Biology and Histopathology
The clinical and histopathology laboratories include sub-units dedicated to each specific activity. State-of-the art equipments include validated software (Pathdata, Bone, CITOX…) following GLP guidance in order to fulfil regulatory requirements.
Our team of certified and experienced pathologists (veterinarians and MD) and technical staff has a wealth of experience in evaluation of the safety of pharmaceutical, veterinary pharmaceutical, biotechnological, chemical, agrochemical and food and consumer products, in rodents and non-rodents.
Standard studies
Clinical pathology
- Complete set of haematology, blood biochemistry and urinalysis parameters
- Specific parameters: lipid profile, bone markers, hormones, cholinesterase
- Coagulation parameters
- Immunotoxicology: lymphocytes subset analysis, primary immune response to KLH
Sample analysis for multi-sites studies available
Necropsy
- Tissue collection for frozen sections and imunohistochemistry
- Bone collection for histomorphometry
- Whole and upper body perfusion
Histology
- Organ sampling and trimming according to RITA instructions for rodents
- Paraffin and methacrylate embedding
- Standardized and special staining procedures
- Immunohistochemistry
- Cryostat
- Electron microscopy (blocks)
Histopathology
- Evaluation of toxicological pathology, from acute to chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies, following the international recommendations for the terminology.
- Historical control data for rodents (including different strains) and non-rodents routinely used at CIT.
- Routine peer-review
- Immunotoxicology
- Histomorphometryr to quantify tissue changes
- Complete pathology data entry and processing software from study set-up through necropsy and histopathology to the final pathology report (Pathdata software)
- High resolution digital imaging, telepathology
Specific expertise
Tissue collection for RNA or DNA extraction
CIT provides a complete set of services in molecular pathology and genomics (transcriptomics).
- Specifically trained team in order to:
- Collect the tissues in a very short time to avoid RNA degradation
- Trim the tissues to avoid contamination with adjacent tissues
- Follow specific procedures to avoid cross-contamination between tissues
- Extensive list of tissues in rodent and non-rodent species.
Bone and joint research
CIT provides a complete set of services (in-vivo and ex-vivo) for the evaluation of the effects of products on the skeleton (pharmacological and toxicological effects).
- Bone densitometry: standard radiology, DXA, pQCT, micro-CT
- Histomorphometry: state-of-the-art facilities with validated software (BONE) for measurement of static and dynamic parameters
- Complete set of blood and urine bone markers in rodent and non-rodent species
Histomorphometry
MORPHOEXPERT image analysis software allows quantification of user-defined changes for a wide range of parameters.
Molecular pathlogy
CIT offers molecular pathology services with real-time PCR (rt-PCR) and quantitative PCR (Q-PCR)
Subcontracting these activities to CIT is possible.